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About Us

About Skijammers Ski and Snowboard School

A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE SINCE 1964

Skijammers structures its core programs similar to a summer camp. The only difference being that our program is spread out over eight consecutive Saturdays in January and February. Skijammers and Boardjammers students are grouped into classes with others of similar age and experience. A class has the same instructor for the entire eight-week program. Students receive up to 15 instruction sessions during the eight-week season with classes meeting twice a day for two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. Lunch provides more time for social interaction within the classes. The group setting provides great interactions with kids, builds student and instructor partnerships and offers a sense of belonging that is not easily found in other alpine programs. Skijammers offers a structured environment with minimal unsupervised time for students. Parents please note that our program does require students to be comfortable with some independence each Saturday.

Our Curriculum

A ONE-OF-A-KIND PROGRAM

Skijammers and Boardjammers curriculum has been created and developed by our Skijammers Education Staff.

These 150 plus page on-hill flip books are the foundation of our program. All instructors are issued a flipbook and trained in how to use the curriculum to deliver outstanding lessons to our students.

We are currently on our fifth revision of the Skijammers Instructor Pocket Guide, and the third revision of our Boardjammers curriculum.

All of our programs are designed specifically for children and teens.

C.R.E.A.C.H. (Creative Teaching)

OUR TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Creative Teaching Strategies is an effective way to approach a ski lesson — especially for children and young adults. The creative teaching strategies utilized in Skijammers Instructor Pocket Guides are based on three different styles used to set up specific learning environments for children. These styles include Play, Drill and Adventure.

PLAY, is the trial and error experience for children. Play is a time to try new skills out in an atmosphere where making mistakes is exactly what the process is all about. Think about your own childhood experiences of playing in a sandbox, with dolls, puppets, trucks or play-do. There was no single purpose to the playing. It was a time to explore and to try things out. In alpine teaching and learning, PLAY is a very powerful process for children of all ages. The key is to select play experiences that are appropriate and relevant for the age level and skills of your group. PLAY activities are very low on analysis and feedback by you as the instructor. Think of this as a learning time, not a teaching period with you at the center of the play process. While it can feel a bit loose at times, it does work well with children. Have fun with the discovery!

DRILLS are structured, focused and very concentrated time periods, which are intended to develop a very specific skiing skill. Drills are short practice periods, which are repeated regularly to “groove” the basic skills and movements at the level of the group. Repetition is an important element of drill activities. Think of drills in the same way as a basketball coach schedules time for free throw practice or a soccer coach uses dribbling and passing drills with the team. Drills need to be very tight and on target. Time periods are 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the drill and the attention spans of the group members. Students need to know when their performance is good and when it needs to be corrected. Individual attention to specific problems in performance is a valuable part of DRILLS.

ADVENTURE is a time to explore the mountain playground. Even in the Midwest on our limited terrain, you can find adventure! This is a time in the day without feedback or analysis. It is a time to provide lateral learning opportunities. The goal is to assist your class in applying their skiing skills in real situations. It helps them to make choices on their own within the boundaries or limits you set for them. ADVENTURE is an open-ended time period. It allows time and a space to explore and try out the skills you have introduced through play and refined in the drills.

BLENDING PLAY, DRILL AND ADVENTURE INTO OUR LESSON STRUCTURE Instructors will find within each Weekly lesson plan a timeframe and suggested activities for Play, Drill and Adventure. While it is an outline, new instructors are encouraged to try and stay within the given times and activities. Play sessions give you and your class the opportunity to “learn by doing.” The Drill time allows instructors to really focus on the Skijammers Core Curriculum as well as give weekly feedback to the students on progress made on specific exercises. Adventure allows you to seek fun opportunities at the various ski areas where your students will love the outdoor experience.

Meet the Directors/Owners

Matt Clements

Email: mattc@skijammers.com

With Skijammers Ski and Snowboard School since 1994, Matt is a PSIA Level III Certified Instructor, a Trainer and Examiner for the PSIA-Central (C) Education Staff. Matt is also a USSA Coach and USSA Skills Quest Evaluator.

Matt works with the Orono/Big Willow Division of Skijammers. Skiing and racing have been a passion of his since his grandfather first took him to Trollhaugen when he was five years old. 

Skijammers has made a tremendous impact on my life for the past 20 years. Over that time, I have been blessed with the opportunity to meet and interact with the most energetic and motivating ski instructors in the industry as well as some of the greatest kids in the world. I look forward to working with your children this season and helping to bring them a lifelong appreciation for Minnesota winters.

Derek Clements

Email: derekc@skijammers.com

Derek has been with Skijammers since 1992. He is currently a PSIA certified level III instructor and a former member of the PSIA-Central Division Education Staff.

Derek and his wife Victoire live in Deephaven, with their children, Matthew and Scarlett. Also, they are the acting directors of the Blake/Edina/Lake Harriet division and truly enjoy working with instructors, apprentices, chaperones and mostly... the students.

For over two decades, I've had the opportunity to work with and watch hundreds of young ski and snowboard athletes develop their skills and grow as individuals. Our unique eight-week curriculum, and the people who deliver it, is what sets us apart from every other ski and snowboard school.